TiVo : Scrap the apps for faster TiVo speed?

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Which is why we need to keep the apps on the Tivo!

You could still do that though by plugging in something like a Roku Streaming Stick etc into a spare HDMI socket. If my suggestion works, it might be worth buying one to enjoy a faster and more enjoyable viewing experience overall.

Obviously, if my suggestion of taking away the apps, therefore negating the need for the supporting software for them that is slowing TiVo down, won't speed up the TiVo or there is an alternative way to speed up the box, then it would be a waste of time removing the apps.

[andy_m]

Hi all... Long time no see!

So, as many of you know, I love TiVo. However, because of the unique way Virgin Media is funded, I have found myself looking at other options and this year, despite a really good effort from retentions in fairness to them, I'm off. The next year will be spent in front of a combination of BT's youview box and Sky's NowTV. At the moment I have about a week of overlap whilst I clear the TiVo down and the youview series links take over. What I'm noticing which I either never really did or at least was prepared to accept is just how slow the TiVo is in comparison. The point was always made (by me amongst others) that TiVo was actually pretty quick given everything it has to do. The youview is faster, simpler and yet doesn't in any way feel like a step down in terms of functionality. And it has apps...

[mike_gain]

Originally Posted by andy_m

Hi all... Long time no see!

So, as many of you know, I love TiVo. However, because of the unique way Virgin Media is funded, I have found myself looking at other options and this year, despite a really good effort from retentions in fairness to them, I'm off. The next year will be spent in front of a combination of BT's youview box and Sky's NowTV. At the moment I have about a week of overlap whilst I clear the TiVo down and the youview series links take over. What I'm noticing which I either never really did or at least was prepared to accept is just how slow the TiVo is in comparison. The point was always made (by me amongst others) that TiVo was actually pretty quick given everything it has to do. The youview is faster, simpler and yet doesn't in any way feel like a step down in terms of functionality. And it has apps...

While it won't be admitted I think the TiVO development team have struggled learning how to write efficient software for firstly the Air platform and now the Haxe platform. The fact they moved to Haxe is an indicator they were aware of their problems with the Air platform, however in IT moving technology is very rarely the silver bullet, it's never that simple.

I've been extremely happy with my Tivo boxes having got my first one the very week they became available and my 2nd one a couple of months later and never really noticed any sluggish behavior but the box degraded with the release of the Plum update and it would appear (as Spiderplant has used the word hopefully) that there is no certain diagnosis as to why excessive physical memory is being consumed but have observed data being paged in and out more frequently than expected and are hoping to go on a streamlining exercise.

While having the apps on TiVo used to be a great advantage I have multiple devices that do the job of iPlayer, Netflix and Youtube much better and without the terrible load time. Having an all-in-one remote means I don't really care anymore that I have multiple devices...it's quicker for me to press the "Blu Ray Player" activity and load Netflix than it is to try and do it from the TiVo box.

However that's not to say that the TiVO should not have Apps, if they can get their memory problems fixed properly (and not by just purging redundant software as that is neither reliable nor sustainable) and resolve the other infrastructure issues the apps would be a great addition to the box. However as it stands I would have to say the apps and their dependencies should be whipped out until someone at TiVo can figure out how to write software on Haxe efficiently and the get some quality control on the apps being installed onto the box and hopefully both will prevent a repeat of the memory issues we are experiencing.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

You could still do that though by plugging in something like a Roku Streaming Stick etc into a spare HDMI socket. If my suggestion works, it might be worth buying one to enjoy a faster and more enjoyable viewing experience overall.

Obviously, if my suggestion of taking away the apps, therefore negating the need for the supporting software for them that is slowing TiVo down, won't speed up the TiVo or there is an alternative way to speed up the box, then it would be a waste of time removing the apps.

Yes, I have a Roku streaming stick and I am very pleased with it. However, it shouldn't be necessary given that the Tivo can support apps. I am sure that most people would rather have all their TV apps on one device rather than have to fork out for a myriad of boxes, streaming sticks, etc.

[denphone]

Yes l certainly don't want to have 3 or 4 different boxes or sticks.